Table 3 Comparisons of the participants’ descriptive characteristics with the nursing image scale and its sub-dimensions

Age

\(\overline x\) ±

\(\overline x\) ±

\(\overline x\) ±

\(\overline x\) ±

≤ 29 years

245

58.3

2.473 ± 0.283

2.379 ± 0.284

2.372 ± 0.492

2.516 ± 0.303

≥ 30 years

175

41.7

2.461 ± 0.276

2.327 ± 0.275

2.553 ± 0454

2.591 ± 0.278

Test Significance

t = 0.425; p = 0.671

t = 1.892; p = 0.059

t = 3.885;p = 0.000*

t=-2.595;p = 0.010*

Sex

Women

340

81.0

2.466 ± 0.280

2.356 ± 0.285

2.479 ± 0.477

2.552 ± 0.292

Men

80

19.0

2.477 ± 0.280

2.361 ± 0.266

2.471 ± 0.485

2.527 ± 0.310

Test Significance

t=-0.323; p = 0.747

t=-0.126; p = 0.900

t = 0.144; p = 0.885

t = 0.694; p = 0.488

Marital status

Married

159

37.9

2.456 ± 0.286

2.325 ± 0.282

2.387 ± 0.494

2.583 ± 0.295

Single

261

62.1

2.475 ± 0.276

2.377 ± 0.279

2.533 ± 0.460

2.525 ± 0.294

Test Significance

t=-0.695; p = 0.488

t=-1.820; p = 0.070

t=-3.077;p = 0.002*

t = 1.946; p = 0.052

Do you have a chronic illness?

Yes

47

11.2

2.574 ± 0.266

2.422 ± 0.254

2.670 ± 0.360

2.621 ± 0.299

No

373

88.8

2.454 ± 0.278

2.348 ± 0.283

2.453 ± 0.485

2.537 ± 0.293

Test Significance

t = 2.799;p = 0.005*

t = 1.695; p = 0.091

t = 2.957;p = 0.003*

t = 1.826; p = 0.069

Is there anyone in your family / immediate circle who has chosen nursing as a profession?

Yes

274

65.2

2.474 ± 0.284

2.356 ± 0.290

2.512 ± 0.467

2.549 ± 0.298

No

146

34.8

2.456 ± 0.272

2.359 ± 0.256

2.413 ± 0.493

2.543 ± 0.291

Test Significance

t=-0.626; p = 0.532

t=-0.104; p = 0.917

t = 2.028;p = 0.043*

t = 0.199; p = 0.842

Is Nursing a Profession?

\(\overline x\) ±

\(\overline x\) ±

\(\overline x\) ±

\(\overline x\) ±

Yes

400

95.2

2.487 ± 0.262

2.370 ± 0.272

2.503 ± 0.459

2.567 ± 0.278

No

20

4.8

2.073 ± 0.332

2.100 ± 0.344

1.975 ± 0.568

2.159 ± 0.362

Test Significance

t = 6.801;p = 0.000*

t = 4.277;p = 0.000*

t = 4.957;p = 0.000*

t = 6.295;p = 0.000*

Educational status

≤ High school ^a

22

5.3

2.561 ± 0.282

2.363 ± 0.274

2.359 ± 0.448

2.529 ± 0.296

= University ^b

335

79.7

2.460 ± 0.285

2.371 ± 0.289

2.485 ± 0.483

2.582 ± 0.321

≥ Postgraduate ^c

63

15.0

2.473 ± 0.241

2.278 ± 0.225

2.704 ± 0.377

2.631 ± 0.265

Test Significance

F = 1.375; p = 0.254

F = 1.903; p = 0.072

F = 4.514;p = 0.012*

(c > b > a)

F = 3.362;p = 0.036*

(c > b > a)

Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Your Perspective on Nursing?

No ^a

204

48.6

2.450 ± 0.291

2.367 ± 0.295

2.432 ± 0.495

2.532 ± 0.308

Yes, positively ^b

193

46.0

2.504 ± 0.248

2.367 ± 0.251

2.551 ± 0.430

2.578 ± 0.266

Yes, but negatively ^c

23

5.4

2.310 ± 0.354

2.173 ± 0.330

2.260 ± 0.589

2.415 ± 0.365

Test Significance

F = 5.776;p = 0.003*

(b > c)

F = 5.272;p = 0.005*

(b > c)

F = 5.744;p = 0.003*

(b > c)

F = 3.625;p = 0.027*

(b > c)